Interconvertible soft articles

ABSTRACT

Rugged, soft, interconvertible articles constructed from soft, resilient members, which articles adopt a substantially different geometry upon an interior to exterior interconversion. The articles of the invention provide a significant visual effect and are useful as educational aids, magician&#39;s props, and toys.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention is directed to interconvertible articlesconstructed of soft, resilient material for educational use andamusement.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Interconvertible toys, which interconvert from one shape toanother, promote children's interest in geometry and provide visualstimulation to children and adults alike. Interconvertible toys thattake on a substantially different geometry upon an exterior to interiorinterconversion, are particularly fascinating. When constructed fromsoft material, interconvertible toys are advantageous because they aresafe for small children and easily manipulated. Many prior-art softinterconvertible toys are not, however, rugged enough to withstand wearassociated with repeated interconversion and may deteriorate relativelyquickly. Furthermore, such toys are often limited in complexity ofmovement and visual effect.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,647 (issued Jul. 18, 1995) discloses soft,interconvertible objects made from elastic foam material. The disclosedobjects are interconvertible from one geometry to another andconstructed from a single piece of material, such as foam.

[0004] Disadvantageously, upon interconversion, stress is concentratedat the interconversion points, which in some designs are hardly widerthan a thread. Such stress can cause deterioration and eventual failureof the object. Furthermore, because the object is constructed from asingle piece of foam and the inversion focused along a single axis, thevariety of visual and mechanical effects is limited.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,378 (issued May 10, 1994) discloses a toytransformable between open and closed conformations. These toys,however, can only nest appendages into matching recesses and, therefore,lack a substantial visual effect. They are not interconverted orinverted.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,528 (issued May 26, 1992) discloses thetypical reversible bag- or pillow-type toy where the basic geometry isretained after transformation, but the geometry inside the bag after“stuffing” is greatly distorted. Such as article lacks the samestimulating visual effect obtained upon a true interconversion. In viewof the above, there is a need for a rugged, soft interconvertible devicethat provides a significant visual effect upon interconversion. Thediscussion of references in this Background Section 2 is provided forbackground purposes only and no assertion, statement, or admission ismade regarding the references' prior art status with respect to theinvention.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention satisfies the above-mentioned need by providingrugged, soft, interconvertible articles that take on a substantiallydifferent, stable geometries upon interconversion, to provide asignificant, surprising visual effect. Quite startling effects accompanythis interconversion, including exchange of colors and textures and upto tripling the exterior surface area. The articles of the invention areuseful as education aids and for amusement, magic tricks, etc. and,thus, provide learning and fun for both children and adults.

[0008] One embodiment the invention is directed to an article comprisinga first stable geometry, comprising a plurality of soft, resilientrotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections, the membershaving an interior surface area, wherein the article adopts a secondstable geometry upon interconverting one or more of the members. Inanother embodiment, the invention is directed to a method ofinterconverting an article from a first stable geometry to a secondstable geometry comprising interconverting two or more of a plurality ofsoft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-typeconnections.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with regard to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0010]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a cube geometry that can be interconverted to an article of theinvention having a stellated-cube geometry;

[0011]FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the article of the inventionshown in FIG. 1A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into anarticle of the invention having a stellated-cube geometry;

[0012]FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a stellated-cube geometry that can be interconverted to anarticle of the invention having a cube geometry;

[0013]FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the article of the invention shownin FIG. 1A;

[0014]FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the article of the invention shownin FIG. 1C;

[0015]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a building-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to anarticle of the invention having a car-shaped geometry;

[0016]FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the article of the inventionshown in FIG. 3A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into anarticle of the invention having a car-shaped geometry;

[0017]FIG. 3C is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a car-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to an article ofthe invention having a building-shaped geometry;

[0018]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the article of the invention shownin FIG. 3C;

[0019]FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a disk-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to an articleof the invention having a sun-shaped geometry;

[0020]FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the article of the inventionshown in FIG. 5A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into anarticle of the invention having a sun-shaped geometry;

[0021]FIG. 5C is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a sun-shaped geometry that can be interconverted to an article ofthe invention having a disk-shaped geometry;

[0022]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the article of the invention shownin FIG. 5A;

[0023]FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a icosahedron geometry that can be interconverted to an articleof the invention having a stellated-icosahedron geometry;

[0024]FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the article of the inventionshown in FIG. 7A illustrating the initiation of interconversion into anarticle of the invention having a stellated-icosahedron geometry;

[0025]FIG. 7C is a perspective view of an article of the inventionhaving a stellated-icosahedron geometry that can be interconverted to anarticle of the invention having a icosahedron geometry; and

[0026]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the article of the invention shownin FIG. 7C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In one embodiment, the invention provides an article comprising afirst stable geometry, comprising a plurality of soft, resilientrotatable members, interconnected by hinge-type connections, the membershaving an interior surface area, wherein the article adopts a secondstable geometry upon interconverting one or more of the members. Inanother embodiment the invention is directed to a method ofinterconverting an article from a first stable geometry to a secondstable geometry comprising interconverting two or more of a plurality ofsoft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected by hinge-typeconnections. In preferred embodiments the first stable geometry can be acube, building shaped, a disk, or icosahedron; the second stablegeometry can be a stellated cube, car shaped, sun shaped, or a stellatedicosahedron.

[0028] As used herein, the phrase “hinge-type connection” means any typeof flexible connection interconnecting members at their edges. The onlyrequirement is that the connection allow for hinge-type movement of themember, and that the hinge itself can be bent during the transition, butrecovers elastically from that distortion. Examples of hinge-typeconnections suitable for use in the invention include, but are notlimited to, stitches, staples, or pins joining fabric strips, VELCRO,zippers, rings, or fabric encompassing two or more members, the fabrichaving a dividing seam between the members. Preferably, the hinges areformed via a soft fabric layer encompassing two or more members, thefabric layer having stitched dividing seams between the members. Inother words, the soft members are interrelated through a fabric coveringand the hinge-type connections comprise intersection of the fabriccovering. Any type of fabric may be used, and will be chosen based ondesired qualities of the interconvertible articles of the invention.

[0029] As used herein, the term “member” means any object, of any shape,and of any material, wherein the member is part of an interconvertiblearticle of the invention. A “rotatable member” means a member designedto be turned, rotated, or twisted via a hinge-type connectionconcomitantly with one or more other rotatable members thereby effectinginterconversion of an article of the invention.

[0030] As used herein, the phrase “soft, resilient member” means anyobject of any shape made from any soft, resilient material, wherein themember is part of an interconvertible article of the invention. “Soft”means that the member is readily deformable on touch; for referencepurposes, examples of soft objects are pillows, air-filled balloons,foam rubber, etc. “Resilient” means that the member assumes its originalshape once the stress that induced distortion is removed. Preferably, aresilient member is compressible to the extent of from about 50% toabout 90% of its volume and, upon release of the compressive force,assumes its original shape in about one to three seconds. Suitable soft,resilient materials for use in the invention include, but are notlimited to, foamed plastics such as latex or urethane open-cell foams,air-filled elastic latex balloons, or fabric bags filled with spunstuffing, made for example from cotton, goose down, or nylon.Preferably, the soft, resilient members are covered with colorful orotherwise appealing fabric. These fabrics can be slightly elastic (byco-weaving with rubber), metallized, made from “fake fir”, or toughrip-stop nylon normally used in backpacks.

[0031] As used herein, a “stable geometry” means that the article of theinvention is in a definite shape that is rigid to the extent that it isnot floppy, limp, sagging, or droopy and expands back to the originaldefinite shape if compressed or otherwise deformed, such as may occurduring rough play.

[0032] The phrase “interior surface area” with respect to a soft,resilient members in an 1-5 article of the invention in a particularstable geometry, means that portion of the member's surface area that isnot visible because it is enclosed or shielded from sight within thearticle. For example, with respect to FIG. 1B (discussed in more detailbelow), the interior surface area of member 2 a of article 1 inconformation 1 a, consists of the surface area of the four triangularfaces 8. The exterior surface of an article means the visible surfacearea not enclosed within the article.

[0033] As used herein, the phrase “interconvertible interior surfacearea” with respect to an article of the invention means that portion ofthe member-defined interior surface area that is exchanged to thearticles exterior surface upon interconversion. See for example FIG. 2B,discussed in more detail below, where the sum total surface area ofbases 10 define the interconvertible interior surface area if article 1in geometry 1 b.

[0034] As used herein, the term “interconversion” or “interconverting”with respect to a rotatable member means moving or rotating the membersuch that there results an exchange of a portion of the member'sinterior surface area to the exterior surface.

[0035] As used herein, the term “interconversion” or “interconverting”with respect to an article of the invention means turning, rotating, ortwisting one or more of the rotatable members such that there results anexchange of the article's interconvertible interior surface area to theexterior surface. See for example, FIGS. 1A-1C, discussed in more detailbelow, wherein article 1 in geometry 1 a is interconverted to geometry 1b by interconverting rotatable members 2. Preferably, uponinterconversion, an article of the invention converts from a firststable geometry to a second stable geometry. It is also preferable thatupon interconversion that the members maintain their original shape inthe second stable geometry that they had in the first stable geometry.Thus, while deformation of the members occurs during interconversion,the individual members, due to their resiliency assume their originalshape in the second stable geometry.

[0036] A few embodiments of interconvertible articles of the inventionare illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. In general, the interconvertible articlesof the invention comprise a plurality of soft, resilient members thatare interconnected at specific edges by hinge-type connections. Certainof the soft, resilient members are designed to be rotated 180 degrees(“rotatable members”). These rotatable members define an interiorsurface (“interconverting interior surface”). When the rotatable membersare concomitantly rotated 180 degrees, the article interconverts suchthat the interconverting interior surface becomes the exterior surface(“interconverting exterior surface”). Because the interconvertinginterior and exterior surfaces can be designed such that they havesubstantially different geometries, colors, and textures, an excitingvisual effect accompanies interconversion. To allow room forinterconversion, certain soft, resilient members are unconnected atparticular edges. Such unconnected edges define an “interconversionopening”. Pulling the soft, resilient members at the interconversionopening initiates interconversion, whereby a first stable geometry“snaps” to a second stable geometry. The snapping effect results fromthe potential energy generated by member distortion duringinterconversion. When the soft, resilient members are distorted, thepotential energy generated tends to impel them back to their originalshape. They can achieve their original shape by assuming a positionconsistent with either the article's first or second geometry. Beyond a“transition point” the article's second geometry is favored and thepotential energy of distortion is released as the soft, resilient memberassumes the second position consistent with the article's secondgeometry. After each rotating member assumes the second position, theinterconversion is complete, and the resilient members return to theirundistorted shapes.

[0037] One of skill in the art, by reference to the drawings anddescription herein, can design a wide variety of interconvertiblearticles of the invention by providing a shell of soft, resilientmaterial having exterior and interior surfaces of desired design;dividing the shell into soft, resilient members; and interconnecting thesoft, resilient members with hinge-type connections such thatappropriate soft, resilient members can be concomitantly rotated 180degrees. Typically, one begins by considering the most compact state(e.g. a solid cube) and then divides the solid body into a multitude ofelements (e.g. pyramids) with common edges on the hinge lines. Thelarger the apparent volume and shape change, the more fascinating thetransition.

[0038] FIGS. 1A-LC illustrate an article of the invention 1, which canbe interconverted from stable cube geometry 1 a (FIG. 1A) to stablefaceted-ball geometry 1 b (FIG. 1C). As shown in the exploded view offaceted-ball geometry 1 b (FIG. 2B), article 1 is constructed of sixpyramidal-shaped soft, resilient members 2. As shown in FIG. 2B,faceted-ball geometry 1 b defines cube-shaped interior volume 3.Referring to FIG. 2B, the six members 2 are interconnected at edges 4via hinge-type connections 5. For simplicity, only one hinge-typeconnection 5 is shown in the drawing; however, edges 4 having hinge-typeconnections 5 are designated as broken lines in FIG. 2. All of the sixmembers 2 are hinged at each of their four edges 4 (some hinged edgesare not shown due to the limitations of the perspective drawing) exceptfor member 2 a, which, is hinged on just two of its four edges (see FIG.2B, there are no hinge-type connections at edges 4 a and 4 b asindicated by the use of solid rather than hinge-indicating brokenlines), thereby defining interconversion opening 7 (FIG. 1B). Article 1is interconverted from cube geometry 1 a to faceted-ball geometry 1 b,having twenty four triangular faces 8, by rotation of each of the sixmembers 2 via the hinge-type connections 5. Mathematicians refer togeometry 1 b as a stellated cube. Interconversion is accomplished, asillustrated in FIG. 1B, by pulling member 2 a outward and concomitantlypushing corner 9 upward. Note that the members 2 are the same pyramidalshape in both geometries 1 a and 1 b. In geometry 1 b, the pyramidalbases 10 face inward defining an interconvertible interior surface area(i.e., the sum surface area of the six bases 10). This interconvertinginterior surface defines interior volume 3, which is a hollow space ofabout the same volume as the first geometry 1 a. Upon interconversion tofaceted ball 1 b, the outer dimension of the interconvertible cube 1 aroughly doubles. When the bases 10 of the pyramidal members 2 arecolored red, while the triangular sides are colored blue and made ofartificial fur, the rapid switch in shape, size, color, and texture uponinterconversion is both astonishing and entertaining. The article isuseful as a toy, magician's prop, educational aid, ball, and even as astorage container, due to its high mechanical stiffness in eithergeometry.

[0039] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate another embodiment of the invention,article 10, which can be interconverted from stable building geometry 10a to stable car geometry 10 b. As shown in FIG. 4's exploded view ofcar-geometry 10 b, article 10 is constructed from the five soft,resilient members 11 (11 a, 11 b, 11 c, 11 d, and 11 e). Hinge-typeconnections 12 at interconnecting edges 13 interconnect the five members11. In FIG. 4, broken lines indicate edges 13 that are interconnected byhinge-type connections 12, while solid lines indicate edges 13 that arenot interconnected. The appropriate edges are unconnected to defineinterconversion opening 14 (FIGS. 3A and 3B). Note that due to theperspectives limitations, some edges 13 are not shown. Article 10 isinterconverted from building geometry 10 a to car geometry 10 b byrotating members 11 a, 11 b, lic, and 11 e via the hinge-typeconnections 12. Initiation of this interconversion is illustrated inFIG. 3B where the arrows indicate the direction of member rotation. Asshown in FIG. 3B, the user may interconvert article 11 by pullingmembers ha and 11 e outward and concomitantly pushing down on member 11d.

[0040] Article 10 can be decorated as desired, for example, withdecorative wheels 15. Both of geometries 10 a and 10 b are quite stiffand stable and suited for robust play. Indeed, the stability makes theinterconversion surprising.

[0041] FIGS. 5A-5C and 6 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention,article 20, which can be interconverted from stable disk geometry 20 ato stable sun geometry 20 b. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 6,article 20 is constructed from the ten soft, resilient falcate-shapedmembers 21, circular fabric band 22, and disk-shaped member 23. As shownin FIG. 6, in conformation 20 a, the four back edges 24 of each of soft,resilient members 21 are adjacent to the inside of circular fabric band22, which in turn is attached to disk-shaped member 23 via hinge-typeconnection 25. Article 20 is interconverted from disk geometry 20 a tosun geometry 20 b by rotation of each of members 21 via hinge-typeconnection 25, whereupon, circular fabric strip 22 folds over andcontacts the outer circumference 26 of disk-shaped member 23. Asillustrated in FIG. 5B, this is accomplished by pulling members 21upward and over via interconversion opening 27.

[0042] FIGS. 7A-7C and 8 illustrate an article of the invention 30,which can be interconverted from stable icosahedron geometry 30 a (FIG.7A) to stable stellated icosahedron geometry 30 b (FIG. 7C). As shown inthe exploded view of stellated icosahedron geometry 30 b (FIG. 8),article 30 is constructed of twenty triangular-based pyramid-shapedsoft, resilient members 31 and, in stellated icosahedron geometry 30 b,defines icosahedron-shaped interior volume 32. The twenty members 31 areinterconnected at the edges of their triangular bases 33 via hinge-typeconnections 34. For simplicity, only one hinge-type connection is shownin the drawing, however, edges 33 having hinge-type connections 34 aredesignated as broken lines in FIG. 8. All of the twenty members 31 arehinged at each of their three triangular base edges 33 (some hingededges are not shown due to the limitations of the perspective drawing)except for adjacent members 31 a and 31 b (see FIGS. 7A and 7B), which,are hinged on just one of their respective edges 33 thereby defininginterconversion opening 36 (FIG. 7B). Interconversion opening 36 issufficient to allow interconversion and does not compromise stability ofeither geometry 30 a or 30 b. Article 30 is interconverted fromicosahedron geometry 30 a to stellated icosahedron geometry 30 b, havingtwenty-four triangular faces 35 (FIG. 7B), by rotation of each of thetwenty members 31 via the hinge-type connections 35. Interconversion isaccomplished, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, by pulling members 31 a and 31b of interconversion opening 36 outward and concomitantly pushing theopposite corner upward. Note that the members 31 are in the sametriangular-based pyramidal shape in both geometries 30 a and 30 b. Ingeometry 30 b, the triangular bases 35 face inward defining aninterconvertible interior surface area. This interconverting interiorsurface defines volume 32, which is a hollow space of about the samevolume as the first geometry 30 a. Upon interconversion of 30 a to 30 b,the outer dimension of article 30 roughly doubles. Stunning effects canbe achieved by color and texture differences between the triangularsides and bases.

[0043] The articles of the invention may be decorated in any manner, forexample, in article 10, car windows, wheels 15, etc. can be added to thecar surface, while windows, doors, etc. can be added to the buildingsurface.

[0044] The foregoing description of non-limiting embodiments of theinvention has been presented for illustrative purposes. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teachings without deviating from the spirit and the scopeof the invention. The embodiments described are selected to illustratethe principles of the invention and its practical application to therebyenable others skilled in the art to practice the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as suited to their particularpurpose.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article comprising a first stable geometry,comprising a plurality of soft, resilient rotatable members,interconnected by hinge-type connections, the rotatable members havingan interior surface area, wherein the article adopts a second stablegeometry upon interconverting one or more of the rotatable members. 2.The article of claim 1, wherein the article interconverts upon theinterconverting of the one or more rotatable members.
 3. The article ofclaim 1, wherein two or more of the rotatable members are rotatedconcomitantly.
 4. The article of claim 1, wherein one half or more ofthe rotatable members are rotated.
 5. The article of claim 1, whereinall of the rotatable members are rotated.
 6. The article of claim 1,where the one or more rotatable members in the second geometry havesubstantially the same shape as in the first geometry.
 7. The article ofclaim 1, comprising an interconversion opening.
 8. The article of claim1, wherein the interior surface area of the second stable geometrycomprises a hollow space of about the same volume as the volume of thefirst geometry.
 9. The article of claim 1, wherein two or more of therotatable member are interrelated through a fabric covering and one ormore of the hinge-type connections comprises intersection of the fabriccovering.
 10. The article of claim 1, wherein the first geometry iscube, building shaped, disk, or icosahedron.
 11. The article of claim 1,wherein the second geometry is stellated cube, car shaped, sun shaped,or stellated icosahedron.
 12. The article of claim 1, wherein the firstgeometry is cube and the second geometry is stellated cube; the firstgeometry is building shaped and the second geometry is car shaped; thefirst geometry is disk shaped and the second geometry is sun shaped; orthe first geometry is icosahedron and the second geometry is stellatedicosahedron.
 13. The article of claim 1, wherein the one or morerotatable members comprises a plastic foam or an air-filled balloon. 14.A method of interconverting an article from a first stable geometry to asecond stable geometry comprising interconverting two or more of aplurality of soft, resilient rotatable members, interconnected byhinge-type connections.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the two ormore rotatable members are rotated concomitantly.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, wherein one half or more of the rotatable members are rotated.17. The method of claim 14, wherein all the rotatable members arerotated.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the article comprises aninterconversion opening.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein theinterior of the second geometry comprises a hollow space of about thesame volume as the volume of the first geometry.
 20. The method of claim14, wherein the two or more rotatable members are interrelated through afabric covering and one or more of the hinge-type connections comprisesintersection of the fabric covering.
 21. The method of claim 14, whereinthe first geometry is cube, building shaped, disk, or icosahedron. 22.The method of claim 14, wherein the second geometry is stellated cube,car shaped, sun shaped, or stellated icosahedron.
 23. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the first geometry is cube and the second geometry isstellated cube; the first geometry is building shaped and the secondgeometry is car shaped; the first geometry is disk shaped and the secondgeometry is sun shaped; or the first geometry is icosahedron and thesecond geometry is stellated icosahedron.
 24. The method of claim 14,wherein one or more of the rotatable members comprises a plastic foam oran air-filled balloon.